KEYC News 12 Latest School Closings and Delays

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When winter weather strikes Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa, KEYC News 12 (KEYC News Now) is the region’s primary source for school closings, delays, and early dismissals. Serving Mankato and the surrounding communities, the station provides real-time updates to help families navigate hazardous travel conditions.

Current School Closings and Delays Status

How to Check the KEYC Closing List

KEYC maintains a live database that is updated the moment a school superintendent or official makes a decision.

Online Closing Dashboard: The fastest way to see the full list is via the KEYC News Now Closings page.
Mobile App Alerts: The KEYC News Now App and the KEYC First Alert Weather App both offer customizable push notifications. You can set alerts specifically for “Weather” or “Breaking News” to get school updates sent directly to your phone.
On-Air Broadcasts: During KEYC News Now This Morning, watch the scrolling ticker at the bottom of your television screen for a continuous loop of all active cancellations and late starts.

Common School Announcements

In Minnesota, “closing” isn’t the only option. Superintendents use several labels depending on the severity of the weather:

Announcement	What to Expect
2-Hour Delay	School starts two hours late. Morning preschool/early childhood programs are often canceled.
E-Learning Day	The physical school building is closed, but students are expected to log in for remote instruction.
Closed	No school and no remote learning. All extra-curricular activities and “School Age Care” programs are usually canceled.
Early Dismissal	Used when a storm is moving in during the day; students are sent home early to beat the worsening road conditions.

Why Decisions are Made

The decision to close or delay school is never taken lightly. Superintendents typically begin communicating with the KEYC First Alert Weather team as early as 4:00 AM. Factors include:

Wind Chill: If wind chills reach $-35^\circ F$ or colder, many districts will implement a delay or closure for the safety of students waiting at bus stops.
Blowing Snow: In rural Minnesota, “whiteout” conditions from drifting snow can make bus travel impossible even if it isn’t currently snowing.
Ice Accretion: Even a small amount of freezing rain (less than $0.10$ inches) can lead to widespread “2-hour delays” to allow salt and sand crews time to treat the roads.

KEYC-TV, virtual and VHF digital channel 12, is a dual CBS/Fox-affiliated television station licensed to Mankato, Minnesota, United States and serving southwestern Minnesota. Owned by Gray Television.-Wikipedia

Latest School Delays and Cancellations News